BROOKLYN, NY— Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn will not seek re-election as chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, ending her tenure amid a months-long fight over control of the county organization.
She announced Monday night on NY1's "Inside City Hall" that she would not seek another term, just hours before her allies met privately to discuss her successor.
Bichotte Hermelyn has since backed Assemblymember Nikki Lucas, who represents the 60th Assembly District in Brooklyn, as her preferred successor.
Bichotte Hermelyn stopped short of formally endorsing Lucas in an interview with City & State, but praised her ties to Democratic leaders in Brooklyn and Albany.
"If (Lucas) is a candidate, I think she's more than likely to get the support of a lot of people," Bichotte Hermelyn said.
A judge Tuesday blocked a scheduled vote on the next chair after an appeals court invalidated controversial changes to the party's rules.
State Supreme Court Judge Lisa Lewis issued a temporary restraining order hours before party leaders planned to vote, leaving the organization's leadership in limbo until a hearing Oct. 6.
Under the original party rules, reformers aligned with the New Kings Democrats hold a majority of the votes and have backed Julio Peña III, a longtime district leader from Sunset Park.
"Let us be clear: Brooklyn needs a fair vote by the elected District Leaders," the group wrote on X. "The Party Chair attempting to pick her own successor after she lost an election isn't democratic.
The rules changes pushed by Bichotte Hermelyn and her allies would have added about two dozen members to the executive committee, potentially giving her faction greater control over the vote.
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